Cellular communications system for providing non-real time subscription data and related methods

Abstract

A cellular communications system may include a plurality of mobile cellular communications devices each associated with a respective user, and at least one cellular base station for wirelessly communicating with the mobile cellular communications devices. The at least one cellular base station may have a capacity associated therewith. The system may also include a central station for determining available capacity of the at least one cellular base station based upon active wireless communications with the mobile cellular communications devices. Moreover, the system may also include a subscription server for cooperating with the central station to provide non-real time subscription data to users on respective mobile cellular communications devices via the at least one cellular base station when the determined available capacity thereof is greater than a threshold.

1. A communications system comprising:
 at least one base station configured to wirelessly communicate with a plurality of mobile communications devices, said at least one base station having an available capacity associated therewith; and 
 a subscription server configured to cooperate with said at least one base station to send a first portion of non-real time subscription data to a given mobile communications device when the available capacity is greater than a first capacity threshold, and 
 configured to thereafter send a second portion of the non-real time subscription data to the given mobile communications device when the available capacity is greater than a second capacity threshold, 
 wherein said subscription server is configured to discontinue sending subscription data when the available capacity falls below the first capacity threshold. 
 
     
     
       2. The communications system of  claim 1  wherein said subscription server is configured to discontinue sending subscription data based upon an initiation of a telephone call. 
     
     
       3. The communications system of  claim 1  wherein said at least one base station generates capacity usage information. 
     
     
       4. The communications system of  claim 1  wherein said subscription server is configured to provide a subscription data menu on the given mobile communications device. 
     
     
       5. The communications system of  claim 1  wherein the subscription data comprises at least one of news articles, books, video game data, image data, and television programming schedule data. 
     
     
       6. The communications system of  claim 1  wherein the subscription data comprises electronic mail (email) data. 
     
     
       7. A subscription server for use with at least one base station configured to wirelessly communicate with a plurality of mobile communications devices, the at least one base station having an available capacity associated therewith, the subscription server comprising:
 a memory and a controller coupled thereto, said controller configured to cooperate with the at least one base station to send a first portion of non-real time subscription data to a given mobile communications device when the available capacity is greater than a first capacity threshold, and 
 configured to thereafter send a second portion of the non-real time subscription data to the given mobile communications device when the available capacity is greater than a second capacity threshold, 
 wherein said controller is configured to discontinue sending subscription data when the available capacity falls below the first capacity threshold. 
 
     
     
       8. The subscription server of  claim 7  wherein said controller is configured to discontinue sending subscription data based upon an initiation of a telephone call. 
     
     
       9. The subscription server of  claim 7  wherein said controller is configured to provide a subscription data menu on the given mobile communications device. 
     
     
       10. The subscription server of  claim 7  wherein the subscription data comprises at least one of news articles, books, video game data, image data, and television programming schedule data. 
     
     
       11. The subscription server of  claim 7  wherein the subscription data comprises electronic mail (email) data. 
     
     
       12. A communications method comprising:
 determining an available capacity of at least one base station communicating with a plurality of mobile communications devices; and 
 operating a subscription server to cooperate with the at least one base station to send a first portion of non-real time subscription data to a given mobile communications device when the available capacity is greater than a first capacity threshold, and 
 configured to thereafter send a second portion of the non-real time subscription data to the given mobile communications device when the available capacity is greater than a second capacity threshold; and 
 discontinuing sending subscription data when the available capacity falls below the first capacity threshold. 
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12  further comprising discontinuing sending subscription data based upon an initiation of a telephone call corresponding thereto. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 12  further comprising maintaining accounts for respective users, and charging user accounts differently for providing wireless voice communications and non-real time subscription data. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 12  further comprising providing a subscription data menu on the given mobile communications device. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 12  wherein the subscription data comprises at least one of news articles, books, video game data, image data, and television programming schedule data. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 12  wherein the subscription data comprises electronic mail (email) data.